Bo Nickal Suffers First Wrestling Loss in Six Years

Bo Nickal suffered a rare defeat on the wrestling mat, falling to 2026 NCAA champion Max McEnelly, marking his first loss in four years.

Despite his accustomed taste for victory, Nickal experienced a setback for the first time since 2020 in a match against McEnelly during the RAF 12 event in Cleveland.

Though significantly smaller than Nickal, McEnelly showcased his elite skill level, forcing the UFC's top-15 middleweight to fight for every point. McEnelly initially conceded a point for passivity but then executed the only takedown of the bout, cleverly getting behind Nickal and driving him to his stomach on the mat.

These two points propelled McEnelly into the lead. He earned another point when Nickal failed to initiate an attack while under observation for passivity. Ultimately, Nickal received another point due to his opponent's passivity, but with the score at 3-2 and time winding down, the three-time NCAA champion had to act desperately.

Nickal lacked the time to set up his takedowns and began directly attacking, hoping to grab McEnelly's legs. However, the University of Minnesota representative proved too quick. McEnelly repeatedly evaded Nickal's attacks and even prevented the Penn State legend from pushing him out of bounds, which would have earned Nickal a point and a potential victory by criteria.

At the end of the third period, McEnelly held a 3-2 lead and secured the victory. For Nickal, this was his first wrestling loss since falling to Penn State teammate David Taylor during the 2020 Olympic qualifiers.

Nickal has yet to announce his next UFC fight, so it's possible he might request an immediate rematch against McEnelly from RAF in the near future. For now, however, the 2026 NCAA champion can celebrate his victory, adding Nickal's name to his list of conquests.